The SIU Board of Trustees approved $700,000 to replace the worn track at McAndrew Stadium at its Thursday meeting a move that may give SIUC a long overdue new track by summer 1998 or summer 1999.

On the surface, this would seem to be extremely good news. But unfortunately this good news has been presented without mention of a potential problem:SIUC has been scheduled to sponsor the 1999 Missouri Valley Conference Championships. If the track is not completed by spring 1998, then SIUC will be forced to forfeit a valuable opportunity.

The importance of the board’s approval of this project cannot be overlooked, but neither can the importance of a conference that would enhance the reputation of SIUC’s track and field program.

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SIUC’s Athletic Department has scrambled to raise the necessary funds to replace the track as well as fund a number of other athletic improvements because of the track’s deteriorated condition. In 1995, SIUC was slated to sponsor the Missouri Valley Conference championship meet, but could not because the track was in such bad condition. Concrete reportedly can be seen through some worn areas of the track, posing an immense threat to athletes.

SIUC’s track recruits were not even taken to see the track, as it was quite possible that the site of the track would keep recruits from attending SIUC. Don DeNoon, SIUC women’s track and field coach, once even said of the outdoor track at McAndrew Stadium, I wouldn’t take my team to a meet where the track was in such bad shape.

SIUC last resurfaced the existing track 10 years ago. Since then, repairing the track has been attempted numerous times. But now the track’s condition is in dire need of total replacement.

The track is expected to be completed in summer 1998 or summer 1999. This is where the potential problem threatens to overshadow the good news. Again, if the new track is not completed soon enough, SIUC may have to forfeit sponsoring the 1999 MVC championship meet for the second time in four years.

As sponsoring this event would increase the visibility of SIUC’s track program, garner additional money for the school and bode well for recruiting efforts, it would be a shame to miss out on this opportunity again.

Bureaucratic University planning and research has to be done before the University will be ready to bid the project, and this is the major hurdle blocking the track’s completion by next summer.

Every effort by the Athletic Department and the University should be made to complete this project by summer 1998, as sponsoring the 1999 MVC championship meet should become a No.-1 priority.

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